Deciphering plant responses to environmental stressors: Integrative Omics and Biotechnological approaches

Plant growth, development, and ecosystem productivity are continually challenged by diverse environmental stressors - both abiotic (such as drought, salinity, extreme temperatures, heavy metals) and biotic (including pathogens, pests, and symbionts). Recent breakthroughs in genomics, molecular biology, bioinformatics, and artificial intelligence are reshaping our understanding of the mechanisms underlying plant responses and adaptation to such stresses. Cutting-edge “multi-omics” technologies, including genomics, transcriptomics, epigenomics, proteomics, metabolomics, interactomics, and phenomics - combined with advanced genetic tools like GWAS, TWAS, PWAS, MWAS, and CRISPR-Cas, are yielding unprecedented insights into the genetic diversity, gene networks, and molecular pathways that determine plant tolerance and resilience.

This Research Topic aims to bring together pioneering studies that apply integrative and multidisciplinary strategies to unravel the genomic and molecular foundations of plant stress resilience within the context of the phytoecosystem.

We invite submissions that utilize innovative experimental and computational/bioinformatic tools to explore genotype-phenotype relationships, characterize stress-responsive pathways, and facilitate breeding and biotechnological improvements in crop and horticultural plants. Studies highlighting advances in multi-omics, systems biology, bioinformatics, and AI-assisted analyses for stress biology, as well as research that contextualizes findings within ecosystem-level interactions, are strongly encouraged.

We welcome original research, comprehensive reviews, perspectives, and opinion articles

focusing on (but not limited to):

 Genomic and epigenomic responses to biotic and abiotic stress

 Multi-omics integration to decode stress-response networks

 Application of GWAS, TWAS, PWAS, MWAS, QTL mapping, and molecular markers in stress tolerance breeding

 CRISPR-Cas and other biotechnological innovations for improving plant resilience

 Bioinformatics and AI-driven analyses of stress adaptation mechanisms

 Exploration of genetic diversity and evolutionary genomics under stressful environments

 Insights into gene expression, non-coding RNA, and protein-level regulation during stress

 Phytoecosystem-level consequences and interactions in plant stress biology

Submissions should emphasize the integration of molecular and genomic data within wider phytoecological contexts, supporting advances toward ecological sustainability, climate adaptation, and food security in line with SDGs 2, 13, and 15.